Tyler and the Stomach Flu

Thanks for those that have been concerned about Tyler, our 18 month old. He had the stomach flu for almost 3 days. Thankfully he is feeling like himself again, but for some reason his head now hurts.




It is good to have another boy in the house!

Here in America most wishful letters this time of year are addressed to Santa Claus or the North Pole. Fox Morning News did a story today about a Jewish custom where they send letters to God this time of year. They reported that they receive thousands each year, each used to be read but now with the volume they are simply stuffed into the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Those that receive the letters at the Post Office told the reporter about their favorite letter. It was from a man in poverty that asked for 5,000 Sheqels or what equated to $1,000. The postal workers were so moved by the simple request that they all pitched in to give what they could and were able to deliver 4,300 Sheqels to the man. He then sent a thank you note to God that said, "Thank you God for answering my request, but next time don't use those thieves at the Post Office. They only delivered 4,300 Sheqels."

Christmas

I am preaching on the glorious transition from the OT to the NT on Sunday Nights right now. It is timely because the birth of Christ is the climax of this transition. I have been doing some study on Christmas and came across some great quotes from C.H. Spurgeon and John Piper. Spurgeon tackles why it is right for Christians to enjoy the Holiday Season, and Piper addresses the necessity of true belief in Christ's Birth.

This is the season of the year when, whether we wish it or not, we are compelled to think of the birth of Christ. I hold it to be one of the greatest absurdities under heaven to think that there is any religion in keeping Christmas-day. There are no probabilities whatever that our Saviour Jesus Christ was born on that day, and the observance of it is purely of Popish origin; doubtless those who are Catholics have a right to hallow it, but I do not see how consistent Protestants can account it in the least sacred. However, I wish there were ten or a dozen Christmas-days in the year; for there is work enough in the world, and a little more rest would not hurt labouring people. Christmas-day is really a boon to us; particularly as it enables us to assemble round the family hearth and meet our friends once more. Still, although we do not fall exactly in the track of other people, I see no harm in thinking of the incarnation and birth of the Lord Jesus. We do not wish to be classed with those

"Who with more care keep holiday
The wrong, than others the right way."

The old Puritans made a parade of work on Christmas-day, just to show that they protested against the observance of it. But we believe they entered that protest so completely, that we are willing, as their descendants, to take the good accidentally conferred by the day, and leave its superstitions to the superstitious.

Spurgeon again:
Now, I will just tell you the reason why I selected my text. I thought within myself, there are a large number of young men who always come to hear me preach; they always crowd the aisles of my chapel, and many of them have been converted to God. Now, here is Christmas-day come round again, and they are going home to see their friends. When they get home they will want a Christmas Carol in the evening; I think I will suggest one to them—more especially to such of them as have been lately converted. I will give them a theme for their discourse on Christmas evening; it may not be quite so amusing as "The Wreck of the Golden Mary," but it will be quite as interesting to Christian people. It shall be this: "Go home and tell your friends what the Lord hath done for your souls, and how he hath had compassion on you." For my part, I wish there were twenty Christmas days in the year. It is seldom that young men can meet with their friends; it is rarely they can all be united as happy families; and though I have no respect to the religious observance of the day, yet I love it as a family institution, as one of England's brightest days, the great Sabbath of the year, when the plough rests in its furrow, when the din of business is hushed, when the mechanic and the working man go out to refresh themselves upon the green award of the glad earth. If any of you are masters you will pardon me for the digression, when I most respectfully beg you to pay your servants the same wages on Christmas-day as if they were at work. I am sure it will make their houses glad if you will do so. It is unfair for you to make them feast or fast, unless you give them wherewithal to feast and make themselves glad on that day of joy

Piper:

That is the question every one of us faces every Christmas. Is this story of the Son of God coming as a human, born of a virgin, living a life of sinless love, and dying for sinners that all who believe might have eternal life--is this story a creation of human imagination because we need it to be true? Or is it true, and therefore we need to believe it?